Here are the yards of the week in the city of Dunkirk.
Ward One - Top honors go to14 Armadillo St., home of Greg and Karen Sek. The home has a neat landscape in front of the house, but the back yard is to die for. The back yard has many gardens, but the raised stone garden with many annuals and perennials is stunning. A Koi pond in the corner of the backyard sets off a "Better Homes and Gardens" look. Flower baskets attached to the side of the garage have annuals flowing from the top, bottom and sides. What a great display! Honorable mention goes to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dudek, 335 Lake Shore Drive East. Always looking neat and manicured, the Dudeks display a great front yard. Shrubs and annuals create the landscape with a Weeping Cherry anchoring a corner. House plants in a large front window add to the beauty of the front of their home.
In Ward Two, one of the city's premium gardens are tapped this week for Yard of the Week. The total surround, lush garden of Mary and Steve Rees at 433 Dove St. stands out for its incredible variety, vitality and all-out breathtaking beauty. The Rees' know every plant by name and by standing just in one small spot called out the red Bee balm, orange Butterfly Weed, indigo blue Balloon Flowers, lilies and hollyhocks of multiple colors, yellow Yarrow, white fluffy Gooseneck Loosestrife and magenta Rose Campion as well as red Crososmia. Bud n' Bloom Garden Club recently toured this garden and it is one not to miss on the garden walk July 21. Joann Hoffman's patriotic-themed garden at 36 Albany St. receives honorable mention for a small space busting with daisies, daylilies, potted Million Belles and other colorful blooms all surrounding a small pond and a stylish mulberry tree. This eye candy is in the back yard and guests are welcome to walk around to enjoy it.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo
Pictured is the yard at 433 Dove St. owned by Mary and Steve Rees.
First place for Third Ward goes to 82 E. Green St. The home of Diane and William Odel has pleasant curb appeal with manicured lawn and urns of petunias gracing the front entry. The real show stopper is revealed as one walks to the expansive side yard with ornamental grasses, bee balm, daylilies and an unusual variety of perennials. Honorable mention is the Dormans' home at 124 Green St. It presents with all the charm of an English country garden cottage. The entry is marked with a curving path and a rose arbor covered with red roses, while purple clematis climb up the trellis of the porch and ground cover along the front of the house.
Top honors for the Fourth Ward goes to Sophia Colon of 78 Lincoln Ave. The house has a lovely front porch boasting flower boxes filled with trailing vinca vine. The front porch also has an impressive orange tree grown from a seed! Sophia's home is graced by beautiful roses, hostas, Asiatic lilies, irises, and dianthus. The front sidewalk is lined with pachysandra and a handmade picket fence, which provides the home with cottage charm. Honorable mention for the Fourth Ward goes to Kelly Hutton of 714 Grant Ave.. The front of the house has a lovely garden gate and trellis covered by an impressive grape vine. The yard also has beautiful urns filled with blue holly, trailing geranium, and potted hostas. Shasta daisies and blanket flowers provide a nice punch of color as well. Unique solar lighting and architectural elements round out this nice yard.
Sam Mancuso's Tip of the Week: Hardscapes create more living space and beauty. Patios, walks and small areas call for pavers. Many of the large box stores have supplies for the do-it-yourselfer. The biggest secret to installing hardscapes is the base where the pavers are laid. Your outcome is dependent on the base. Always use fractured stone compacted to about 4 inches, an inch of sand on top and then the pavers. The cracks should be filled with polymer sand to prevent weeds from growing between the pavers. Take your time and watch the levels. Patios should be slanted to make sure rain drains off. From large to small, patios are a class addition to the landscape.
Don't forget to register for the garden walk on July 21, 2012, for questions or information call (716) 366-3738.
